| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | abrupt | sudden and discourteously brief |
| 2. | acerbic | sharp and harsh in tone |
| 3. | aggressive | forceful and confrontational |
| 4. | authoritative | confidently direct and firm |
| 5. | bald | plainly stated without softening |
| 6. | barbed | sharply hurtful or critical |
| 7. | bare-knuckled | aggressively direct or harsh |
| 8. | biting | sharply critical or harsh |
| 9. | blistering | extremely harsh or critical |
| 10. | boorish | rough and ill-mannered |
| 11. | brusque | abrupt and curt |
| 12. | businesslike | practical and direct |
| 13. | candid | truthful and unreserved |
| 14. | categorical | clear and unqualified |
| 15. | caustic | severely critical and biting |
| 16. | churlish | rude and surly |
| 17. | clipped | spoken in short tones |
| 18. | cold | lacking warmth or tact |
| 19. | commanding | forceful and direct |
| 20. | crisp | brief and sharply clear |
| 21. | curt | brief and somewhat rude |
| 22. | cutting | harshly incisive |
| 23. | decisive | clear and firm |
| 24. | direct | straightforward and to the point |
| 25. | discourteous | showing little courtesy |
| 26. | emphatic | forceful and definite |
| 27. | explicit | fully and clearly stated |
| 28. | firm | strong and definite |
| 29. | flat-out | completely and directly |
| 30. | forthcoming | willing to speak openly |
| 31. | forthright | honest and outspoken |
| 32. | frank | open and honest in speech |
| 33. | frankly spoken | expressed in a frank way |
| 34. | free-spoken | speaking openly and frankly |
| 35. | frontal | direct and head-on |
| 36. | gruff | rough and abrupt |
| 37. | hard-edged | harsh and unsentimental |
| 38. | hard-hitting | forceful and unsparing |
| 39. | hard-nosed | tough and unsentimental |
| 40. | harsh | rough and unpleasant |
| 41. | head-on | directly confronting something |
| 42. | honest | truthful and sincere |
| 43. | hostile | unfriendly and aggressive |
| 44. | impolite | not polite |
| 45. | in-your-face | boldly aggressive and direct |
| 46. | incisive | sharply direct and penetrating |
| 47. | indelicate | not tactful or refined |
| 48. | insensitive | not considerate of feelings |
| 49. | laconic | using very few words |
| 50. | matter-of-fact | practical and unemotional |
| 51. | merciless | showing no softness or pity |
| 52. | needle-sharp | extremely sharp and direct |
| 53. | no-nonsense | practical and direct |
| 54. | offhand | casual and somewhat abrupt |
| 55. | open | willing to speak plainly |
| 56. | outspoken | freely expressing strong opinions |
| 57. | peremptory | commanding and abrupt |
| 58. | piercing | sharply penetrating or direct |
| 59. | plain | simple and direct |
| 60. | plainly spoken | said in simple direct words |
| 61. | plainspoken | using simple, direct words |
| 62. | point-blank | very direct and abrupt |
| 63. | raw | plain and unrefined |
| 64. | razor-sharp | keenly sharp and direct |
| 65. | relentless | unyielding and severe |
| 66. | rough | not gentle or polished |
| 67. | round | plain and direct in manner |
| 68. | rude | offensively impolite |
| 69. | savage | fiercely harsh or direct |
| 70. | scathing | severely critical and harsh |
| 71. | severe | harsh and intense |
| 72. | sharp | keenly direct or biting |
| 73. | short | brief to the point |
| 74. | snappish | sharp and irritable |
| 75. | snappy | short and sharp |
| 76. | stark | plain and severe |
| 77. | stinging | sharply painful or critical |
| 78. | straight | direct and honest |
| 79. | straightforward | clear and honest |
| 80. | tactless | lacking sensitivity or diplomacy |
| 81. | terse | brief and abrupt |
| 82. | to the point | direct and relevant |
| 83. | tough-minded | practical and unsentimental |
| 84. | trenchant | vigorous and sharply expressed |
| 85. | truthful | telling the truth |
| 86. | unadorned | simple and not dressed up |
| 87. | unapologetic | not expressing regret |
| 88. | uncivil | not civil or polite |
| 89. | uncompromising | not yielding or softening |
| 90. | undiplomatic | not tactful in speech |
| 91. | unembellished | plain and without extras |
| 92. | unequivocal | leaving no doubt |
| 93. | unfiltered | not softened or censored |
| 94. | unsentimental | not softened by emotion |
| 95. | unsparing | not gentle or lenient |
| 96. | unsubtle | not delicate or nuanced |
| 97. | unvarnished | plain and not softened |
| 98. | up-front | open and direct |
| 99. | vividly frank | strikingly open and direct |
| 100. | withering | devastatingly scornful or harsh |
